This is the shocking wreckage of a Land Rover after it was struck by a train near Ely.

Dimitar Vaclinov was driving the vehicle onto Nairns Level Crossing in Stretham when he was immediately struck by a passenger train travelling at 70mph.

The farm worker had not contacted the railway signal box to get permission. The Land Rover Discovery was thrown off the tracks and landed in a ditch to the side of the tracks several yards from the crossing.

Vaclinov was thrown from the vehicle and was seriously hurt, with a broken collar bone and fractured skull among his injuries.

The remains of Dimitar Vaclinov's Land Rover after he drove over a level crossing in Stretham without permission

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Investigating officer, Det Sgt Alan Bardlsey, said: “This case highlights the need to comply with safety instructions whilst crossing the railway. Not only did Mr Vaclinov suffer serious life-threatening injuries in the collision but he also ended up in court facing a serious allegation.

Vaclinov had worked at the farm for years but did not know you had to contact the railway signal box to get permission

“It was extremely lucky that no one else was injured, however the incident was extremely traumatic for the train driver and passengers."